VOA · America's National Parks
Intermediate · B1–B2learner speed3:082025-03-06public domain
America's National Parks tours the great outdoors of the United States, from Yellowstone to the Everglades. Rich descriptive language about geography and nature, delivered at learner speed.
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01In the Midwestern city of St.
02Louis, Missouri, a huge arch of shiny metal rises to a height of nearly 200 meters.
03The arch stands near the edge of the Mississippi River.
04This famous landmark is called the Gateway Arch.
05It is the tallest monument in the United States and the tallest arch in the world.
06It represents the westward expansion of the United States from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean.
07American building designer Aero Saarinen, who was born in Finland, designed the arch during a national competition in the late 1940s.
08However, building did not begin until February of 1963.
09It was finished in 1965.
10Later, a transportation system was added to permit people to visit an observation area inside the top of the arch.
11Saarinen designed the arch to withstand strong winds and earthquakes.
12The width of the arch at its bottom is equal to its height of 192 meters.
13Below ground underneath the arch, the museum at the Gateway Arch has information about the history of St.
14Louis and how people settled and lived in the American West.
15St.
16Louis was an important starting point for hundreds of thousands of Americans who traveled west during the 1800s.
17The exploration and settling of the American West are an important part of the country's history and culture.
18When visitors see the huge arch, they can imagine passing under it to travel to a new place and begin a new part of their lives.
19The Gateway Arch is a U.S.
20national park.
21National Park Service information shows that about 2.4 million people visited the arch in 2023.
22Saarinen died in 1961.
23While he never saw his arch built, his design lives on.
24Saarinen also designed another American landmark, the TWA Flight Center at John F.
25Kennedy Airport in the city of New York.
26I'm Andrew Smith.
27Saarinen's name is Andrew Smith.
28Saarinen is a U.S.
29national park.
30Saarinen is a U.S.
31national park.
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